Adjustable and reversible garment



Nov. 20, 1962 v. M. BRIDGEWATERS 3,0 4, 5

ADJUSTABLE AND REVERSIBLE GARMENT Filed Oct. 5, 1959 INVENTOR. VIRGIN/A M. BR/DGEW/V'ERS United States Patent ()fiice 3,064,265 Patented Nov. 20, 1962 q E a.

$364,265 ADJUSTABLE AND REVERSIBLE GARMENT Virginia M. Bridgewaters, 19213 Hopeland, Downey, Calif. Filed Oct. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 844,316 2 Claims. (Cl. 274) This invention relates to adjustable and reversible garments and is particularly concerned with a dress, or the like, to be worn in the usual manner, but which, as the title of this invention implies, is adapted to be adjusted as to size and can be converted as to appearance, all as circumstances require.

Appearance is of prime importance in the making of garments, and especially in womens or girls wear. Various constructions have been employed in the past but each attended with certain unorthodox features which brand the garment by giving it an unpleasant appearance. Adjustability and reversibility are two separate problems, the first being a highly desirable feature in connection with growing children, and the second being a highly desirable feature in connection with appearance. Further, both of said features have a direct bearing upon economy, that is, the garment if adjustable is useful over a longer growth period of the child, and if reversible is useful for changes in appearance and is also longer wearing.

A general object of this invention is to provide a garment in the form of a dress, or the like, that is both adjustable and reversible and which is wearable in the usual manner.

It is an object of this invention to provide a garment of the character above referred to that is orthodox in appearance and not attended by features that ordinarily brand such garments with unpleasing appearance.

An object of this invention is to provide a garment of the character above referred to that is adjustable over a substantial range, including both length and girth.

Another object of this invention is to provide a garment with removable sections that can be employed as desired to adjust the size of the garment and also to alter the appearance of the garment.

It is another object of this invention to provide a garmerit as above referred to that is readily employed and which is desirable and practical to be worn.

The various objects and features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a garment, in the form of a dress, and illustrating the embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the garment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a front view of a portion of the garment shown in FIG. 1 with the upper and lower sections thereof removed. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the portion of the garment as it is shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on FIG. 1.

As clearly illustrated throughout the drawings, the garment that I provide is orthodox and pleasing in appearance. As shown, the garment is a dress, it being understood that the form and design thereof can vary Widely as circumstances require, and further, that the garment can take forms other than a dress, for example, a form wherein the lower section thereof is formed as a pair of pants, or the like.

In the form of the invention illustrated the garment is designed to be worn by a young girl and in accordance with the invention it is sectional and involves, generally, a center section A, an uper section B, and a lower section C. The center section A is the main element or foundation of the garment that clothes the torso of the body.

The upper section B is a removable and reversible element of the garment that clothes the upper chest, neck and shoulders of the body. And, the lower section C is a removable and reversible element of the garment that clothes the lower limbs of the body.

The center section A that forms the main element or foundation of the garment is provided to clothe the body from the chest portion to and below the hip portion, and said section involves, generally, a bodice 10, a skirt 15 and sleeves 20. The bodice 10 extends from the upper portion of the chest to the waist-line, leaving the shoulders exposed and covering the bosom. As shown, the bodice 1 terminates in substantially straight horizontal edges 11 and 12 at both the front and back of the garment, respectively (see FIGS. 3 and 4) exposing the shoulders at both the front and back. The bodice 10 can be constructed as desired, for example, with pleats 13 to give it the desired contour, and in accordance with the invention it is gathered at 14 around the waist, in order to allow for expansion and contraction.

The skirt 15 extends from the waist-line down and is a relatively short skirt proportioned to terminate substantially below the crotch of the wearer. As shown, the skirt 15 is full and is joined to the bodice 10 at the waistline where it is gathered at 16, in order to allow for expansion and contraction. In accordance with the invention the joinder of the bodice 10 and skirt 15 includes an elastic waistband 17 that encircles the waist to draw the garment to the body of the wearer. Further, as shown in' FIGS. 2 and 4, there is a slide fastener 18 provided to open the back of the garment in order to facilitate dressing and undressing.

The sleeves 20 project from the bodice at the upper portion thereof to surround the upper portions of the arms of the wearer. As shown, the sleeves 20 are short sleeves intended to cover only the shoulder portions of the arms, and in accordance with the invention terminate at inner edges 21 that occur at the sides of the bodice 10. The sleeves 20 are preferably full and gathered at 22 along said inner edges 21, said edges 21 extending upwardly from and between the edges 11 and 12 of the bodice. In accordance with the invention the edges 21 include elastic shoulder bands 23 to tighten the sleeves over the shoulders of the wearer.

in addition to the features above described the bodice includes loops 24 to pass a belt or tie 25, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and in accordance with the invention there are two rows of fasteners 26 and 27, the fasteners 26 being provided to secure the upper section B to the bodice A, and the fasteners 27 being provided to secure the lower section C to the bodice 10. As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is a single row of fasteners 26 encircling the upper end portion of the bodice 10 and a plurality of rows of fasteners 27 encircling the lower end portion of the bodice It In the particular case illustrated, the fasteners are ordinary button-type fasteners provided in series and substantially equally spaced from each other. The series of fasteners 26 extend across the front and back of the garment spaced somewhat below the edges 11 and 12 and extend upward and over the tops of the sleeves 2i and, as shown, the outer fasteners are positioned at about the extreme shoulder portions of the sleeves. The series of fasteners 27 extend across the front and back of the garment at a level spaced substantially above the lower edge of the skirt 15, and I have shown, for example, two parallel rows of fasteners 27, one above the other. It will be apparent that the series of fasteners or rows 26 and 27 thereof extend circumferentially of the garment.

In accordance with my invention, I provide the upper section B that is a removable and reversible element indicated.

adapted to be secured to the bodice when desired. In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the upper section B is shown applied in working position to the bodice 10, while in FIGS. 3 and 4 the said upper section is removed. As shown, the upper section B clothes the upper chest, neck and shoulders of the body and involves, generally, a yoke 30 and sleeve caps 35. The yoke 30 is in the usual form and is shaped to overlie the shoulders of the wearer and with a neck opening 31. The lower front and rear edges 32 and 33 of the yoke 30 are substantially straight and horizontal, the said lower edges or portions of the yoke 30 overlying the upper portions of the bodice 10. The sleeve caps 35 project from the yoke at each side thereof to overlie the tops of the sleeves 20, respectively. The caps 35 are joined to the opposite sides of the yoke 30 and are full and gathered at 29. In the case under consideration, where the row 26 of fasteners are buttons, there is a row of buttonholes 36encircling the upper section B and formed in the front and back thereof and in the sleeve caps 35. Thus, it will be apparent how the section B can be applied to the center section A. Further, the back of the yoke 30 is divided at 32 to allow for opening of the neck opening 31, there being a fastener at 33 to close the neck opening around the neck of the wearer. As shown, the lower edges, or periphery, of the upper section B can be scalloped to decorate the garment.

In accordance with my invention, I provide the lower section C that is a removable, adjustable and reversible element adapted to be secured to the skirt 15 when and if desired. In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings the lower section C is shown applied in'working position to the skirt 15, while in FIGS. 3 and 4 the said lower sec tion C is removed. As shown, the lower section C clothes the lower limbs, or legs, of the wearer and involves an over-skirt 4,0 that is both adjustable and reversible. The overskirt 40 is a continuous circular element that overlaps the skirt 15, above described, and which depends to the desired height above the floor or ground as the case may be. In the case under consideration, where the rows 27 of fasteners are buttons, there is a row of buttonholes 37 encircling the lower section C and formed in the front and back thereof. The holes 37 are spaced below the upper edge of the overskirt 40, and thus, it will be apparent how the section C can be applied to the center section A. That is, the overskirt 40 can be fastened to either the upper or lower row 27 of fasteners. As shown, the upper edges, or periphery, of the lower section can be scalloped to decorate the garment.

It is advantageous to employ different materials in the making of the several sections A, B and C, and also to employ different materials on the outside and inside of the sections B and C. For instance, the main element or center section A may be made of one material, color and/or design, while the outside of the sections B and C may be made of a second material, color and/or design, and while the inside of the sections B and C may be made of a third material, color and/or design. In order to render the sections B and C reversible, I make them double sided (see FIG. with one material a at one side and a second material b at the other side. The two sides or panels of material a and b are joined by stitching 39 and the seams being turned inwardly, as

In FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings I have shown shoulder straps that can be secured to pairs of fasteners at the row 26 thereof. Thus, the garment can be Worn without the upper section B, and with the straps 45, giving the appearance of a sun-dress. Further, and if so desired, the lower section C can be removed, in which case the garment serves for activities, such as, for example, skating.

:From the foregoing it will be clear as to how the garment is constructed, employing the usual methods of dressmaking and tailoring. That is, the parts of construction are suitably secured together as .by stitching, establishing the sections A, B and C and the added elements 25 and Y45. When the garment is worn, the waistband 17 and shoulder bands 23 permit expansion of the garment at the waist-line and sleeves, respectively, the tie 25 being tied as shown in FIG. 2. The straps 45 on the upper section can be worn as desired, and the lower section can be adjusted by securing it to the desired row 27 of fasteners. As' the wearer grows, the lower row 27 of fasteners can be employed, and if necessary the rows 27 can be lowered farther, as circumstances require. Thus, with the garment that I provide, adjustability both as to length and girth is adequately provided.

Having described only a typical preferred form and.

application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but Wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A garment of the character described and including, a section for clothing the body of the wearer and having a bodice and having sleeves for the shoulders and arms of the wearer, a row of fasteners spaced downwardly from the top of the bodice and extending across the top of the bodice and sleeves,'and an upper reversible yoke section for clothing the neck and shoulders of the wearer and with a neck opening and having sleeve caps to overlie said sleeves, said yoke section being removably fastened right side or inside out to said row of fasteners.

2. A garment of the character described and including, a section for clothing the body of the wearer and having a bodice and having sleeves for the shoulders and arms of the wearer, a row of fasteners, spaced downwardly from the top of the bodice and encircling the garment and extending across the front and back and over the outside 'of the sleeves of said section, and an upper reversible yoke section for clothing the neck and shoulders of the wearer and with a neck opening and having sleeve caps to overlie said sleeves, said yoke section being removably fastened right side or inside out to said row of fasteners.

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549,829 Shrier Nov. 12, 1895 1,403,030 Janzow Ian. 10, 1922 1,784,369 Lowenbaum Dec., 9,1930 1,841,474 Greenwich Ian. 19, 1932 2,425,635 Nitzberg Aug. 12, 1947 2,690,564 Kingston et al. Oct. 5, 1954 

